A/an

We use a/an with singular nouns.

• This is a table. 
• It’s an orange. 

We use a with nouns beginning with a consonant, and we use an with nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).

• Give me an apple. 
• There is an elephant in the zoo. 
• It’s an amazing experience. 

We also use an with nouns beginning with h if the h is not pronounced. But we use a if the h is pronounced.

• Give me an hour. 
• I want to buy a hat. 

We use a and NOT an with nouns beginning with u when it is pronounced like university. 

• Is there a university in this city? 
• I wear a uniform. 

Plurals in English

Do not use a + plural

We do NOT use a/an with plural nouns.

• These are tables. 
• These are a tables. 

Regular plurals

We add -s to make plural nouns in English. Sometimes we need to add -es, -ies or –ves. Check the spelling in the grammar chart above.

Irregular plurals

Some words have irregular plurals and do NOT add -s to make their plural form.

Use a/an

First mention

We use a/an when we mention something for the first time.

• I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.

Jobs and descriptions

We use a/an to talk about people’s jobs or to say what kind of person or thing something/somebody is.

• Paula is a teacher.
• Paris is an interesting city.
• When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.

You cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a, the, my, etc.)

• I don’t have driving license. 
• I don’t have a driving license. 
• This hotel doesn’t have spa. 
• This hotel doesn’t have a spa.